Rail stabilizer



Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL STABILIZER Glen Fl Carpenter, Des Moincs, Iowa I Appiication February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,005

1 Claim. (01. 238-349) This invention relates generall to rail section assemblies in railroad track systems and in particular to a device for stabilizing the rail sections against becoming misplaced or loose during use.

In the laying of rail sections, it is now common practice to support the base sections of the rails on tie or anchor plates which extend transversely of the rail, and longitudinally of the wooden ties for supporting the rails. The top surfaces of the tie plates are formed with transverse rail receiving grooves or depressions, and the opposite ends of the tie plates have holes therein through which usual anchor spikes are inserted for driving into the ties. This manner of laying rails is generally satisfactory. However, in use the anchor spikes become loosened, due to the traffic on the rails, and expansion and contraction of the rails, so that the rail and the tie plate are movable relative to each other and relative to the wooden tie. As a result, the stability of the rail section is reduced, and the mechanical wear on the rail base section and tie plate appreciably shortens their service life. i

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved stabilizing device for rail sections.

A further object of this invention is to provid a rail stabilizer which substantially holds the rail against movement relative to its corresponding tie plate, so as to appreciably increase the service I life of such parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rail stabilizer which is adaptedto effect a holding force on a tie plate counter to the force applied thereon, by the movement of a rail, tending pable of being readily and easily applied to standard type rails and tie plates.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a rail stabilizer which comprises fiat clamp member of a spring material having its o posite end portions laterall offset and of a to 2 length such that one end portion is supported on the rail section, and the other end portion on the tie plate. A bolt, inserted through the tie plate and through the clamp member, intermediate the ends of the clamp member, is adapted to draw the clamp into frictional bearing engagement with the rail section and tie plate.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention Will appear from the following description when takenin connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of; a rail section and a tie plate therefor, showing the stabilizing device of this invention in assembly relation therewith; 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a clamp member forming part of the stabilizing-device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View of the rail showing the stabilizing device and an anchor plate in side elevation and in assembly relation with the rail;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View illustrated similarly to Fig. 3, showing the stabilizing device in an unstressed condition.

With reference to the drawings, the stabilizing device of thisinvention, indicatedgenerally as It, is illustrated in Fig. 1 in assembly relation with a usual rail section ll, having a tie or anchor plate l2, which is supported on a usual wooden tie l3.

The anchor plate [2 is of a common type having in its top side a transverse groove or depression M, for receiving the base l6 of the rail section II. A pair of transverse ribs or projections .I l are arranged on the bottom side of the anchor plate at positions opposite the side walls 13 of the groove M. The ribs I! are pressed or forced into the top side of the wooden tie l3, by'the weight of the rail II and the load carried thereby, to aid .in holding the anchor plate against movement longitudinally of the tie.

Each end 19, of the anchor plate I2, is formed with a series of three openings 2| and 22 (Figs. 1 and l), with a pair of openings 2| being generally used to receive rail holding spikes (not shown) and the third opening 22 an anchor spike 25. The pair of openings 2! are of a substantially quare shape and extend through the sidewalls l8 of the groove I4, and the ribs II. The third opening 22, also of a square shape, is spaced outwardly from a corresponding pair of openings 2| at a position intermediate the openings 2 I.

It is seen, therefore, that the ribs H are cut away at positions opposite the openings 2|, as indicated at 23 in Fig, 4, so as not to interfere with the driving of the rail holding spikes through such openings to positions below the rail base The stabilizing device I includes a clamp member or plate 24 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), composed of a spring steel material and of a generally flat shape. The clamp 24 is integrally formed with an end section 26 and an opposite end section 21, which sections are laterally ofiset from each other so as to lie in difierent planes longitudinally of the clamp. The end section 26 is of a longer length than the end section 21, and the junction of the two sections is defined by a bent section 28 of a substantially Z-siape in cross section. A square shape opening 29 is formed in the end section 26 adjacent to the connecting section 28 of the clamp.

A bolt 3| (Figs. 3 and 4) is formed with a shank 32 of a substantially square shape in transverse cross section and of a size adapted to be received through the opening 29 in the clamp 24, and one of the openings 2| in the anchor plate I2. The end 33 of the shank 32 is of a round shape and externally threaded for connection with a nut 34. The head 36, of the bolt 3|, is of a substantially rectangular shape and of a size adapted to be received within a cut away portion 23 in a rib H. The engagement of the bolt head 36 with the adjacent ends of a rib IT at an opening 2| thus holds the bolt 3| against rotation for a purpose which will appear later.

In the assembly of the stabilizing device Ii] with a rail II, the bolt 3| is initially inserted upwardly through one of the openings 2| and the anchor plate I2 is placed in a usual manner on the tie I3. Since the bolt head 35 projects downwardly from the lower side of the anchor plate I2, the top surface of the tie I3 is cut away to form a depression or cavity (not shown) capable of receiving the bolt head 35 therein, so that the anchor plate lies flat on the tie.

The clamp member 24 is then positioned such that the bolt shank 32 extends upwardly through I the opening 29, and the end sections 26 and 2'! rest on the rail base It and on the anchor plate I2, respectively, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3; The nut 34 is then tightened against the clamp member 24 to clamp or draw the end sections 26 and 2'I into frictional bearing engagement against the rail base I6 and anchor plate I2, respectively.

By virtue of the clamping action of the nut 34, the clamp member 24 is placed under tension so as to apply a downward force or pressure against both the rail base It and the anchor plate I2. It is contemplated that a pair of the stabilizing devices It] be used with each anchor plate l2 and arranged diagonally opposite each other, as ilustrated in Fig. l. The anchor spike 25 is driven in a usual manner, and a rail spike for t e free opening, indicated as 2m in Fig. 4, may or may not be used, depending upon the particular tracklaying job.

In the use of the stabilizing device Ill. expansion and contraction of the rail section I I is permitted by virtue of the rail being movable relative to the end section 26, while still being acted upon by the pre sure app ied by the clamp 24. Any lateral tipping movement of the rail H. i

against the downward pressure applied through the sections 26 on the rail base I6.

Thus, for example, assume that the rail II tends to tip toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3. The clamp section 26, which acts to hold the base It against the tie plate, will resist such tipping movement. Concurrently with the lateral tipping movement of the rail section to raise the end section 26, the opposite corresponding end section 2'! of the clamp 24 is pressed downwardly more firmly against the anchor plate I2. This increase in the pressure applied on the anchor plate I2 by the end section 21 more firmly holds the anchor plate against pulling upwardly on the anchor spike 25. As a result, the lateral tipping movement of the rail II is accommodated by the spring action in the clamp 24 so that when the rail assumes its normal position it is again firmly clamped with the tie plate I2. Further, the action of the clamp 24 to restrain the tilting movement of the rail I I substantially reduces any mechanical wear between the rail base It and the anchor plate I2. The stabilizing device thus operates to appreciably lessen the degree of relative movement between the anchor plate I2 and the base section I6, and the loosening of the anchor plate I 2 relative to the tie I3.

In one embodiment of the invention, the clamp member 24 is three inches wide and has a normal length when in its unstressed condition shown in Figs. 2 and 5, of four and three-eighths inches. The relative inclination of the clamp sections 26 and 21, relative to the base section I6 and anchor plate l2, respectively, is such as to provide for a total bearing surface between these parts of about nine square inches.

On tightening of the nut 34, to develop a pressure of about two thousand pounds per square inch in the clamp member 24, the length of the clamp member its stressed condition shown in Fig. 3 is increased to about four and five-eighths inches. With a pair of clamping devices arranged on opposite sides of the rail, a balanced pressure is provided on the rail and on the tie plate I2 for ho ding the rail against running either because of trafiic or due to expansion or contraction thereof,

From a considerat on of the above description, it is seen that the invention provides an improved stabilizing device for a rail section which is of a simple and rug ed construction, and capable of being applied to standard tvpe rails and anchor plates. The clamp ng device firmly holds the rail in assembled position on the anchor plate,

I so as to appreciably reduce the mechanical Wear on both the plate and the rail. Further, the action of the device to pre s more firmly against the anchor plate, as a result of any lateral tipping movement of the rail. les ens the degree of relative movement between the anchor plate and tie so as to minimize the mechanical wear on that portion of the tie I3 located below the anchor plate I 2.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A stabi izing device for a rail having a tie plate comprising a spring c amp member integrally form d with laterally offset flat end portions of different lengths, with the shorter one of said end portions being supported on said tie plate, and a clamp means extendible through the longer one of said end portions and said tie plate at a position adjacent to the base section of the rail for clamping said clamp member against said base section and tie plate, with said end portions being relatively inclined to said rail base and tie plate respectively such that when said clamping means is tightened, said clamping member is extended longitudinally to provide for substantially equal surface areas on said end portions being moved into frict'onal bearing engagement With said base section and tie plate, whereby balanced holding pressures are applied by said clamp member on said base section and tie plate.

GLEN F. CARPENTER.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,162 Gallagher Jan. 20', 1885 420,438 COX Feb. 4, 1890 713,404 Copeland et a1. Nov. 11, 1902 2,144,413 McGrew Jan. 17, 1939 2,203,624 Clarkson June 4, 1940 2,203,994 Magee June 11., 1940 

